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What are the Symptoms of Oxycodone Addiction?

A. Gabrenas
A. Gabrenas

The symptoms of oxycodone addiction are often similar to those seen in other drug addictions. They often include physical, mental and behavioral signs. Some of the symptoms experienced, especially those related to physical withdrawal, may actually feed a person’s addiction further. With treatment, however, many of the symptoms of oxycodone addiction can often be alleviated so the user can begin the process of recovery.

Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller. Health-care providers often prescribe it to help treat significant pain related to surgery or certain health problems, such cancer and infections. It works by changing the way the brain and nerves work, so they don’t interpret pain signals as intensely as usual. Like many other opiates, such as morphine and methadone, oxycodone has the potential to become addictive when used incorrectly or over long periods of times.

Patients can become addicted to pain medicines like Oxycodone after prolonged usage.
Patients can become addicted to pain medicines like Oxycodone after prolonged usage.

The path to oxycodone addiction often begins with tolerance. This is when a person needs to take more of the drug to get the same effect. In some cases, users may experience withdrawal symptoms if they miss a dose of the drug. These may include moodiness, anxiety, stomach upset, trouble sleeping and flu-like symptoms. Other physical symptoms of oxycodone addiction can include a worsening of the normal side effects of the drug, such as constipation, headaches, dizziness and breathing problems.

Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller used to dull moderate to severe pain.
Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller used to dull moderate to severe pain.

In addition to physical signs, there can also be mental and behavioral symptoms of oxycodone addiction. For example, users may feel that they need the drug just to get through the day. Or, they may fear withdrawal symptoms so much that they continue to take the drug even if it is causing problems in their life. In terms of behavior, people addicted to oxycodone may act erratically and give up activities they used to enjoy. They may seek the drug out at all costs, no matter the harm to their jobs, families or finances.

All opioids, including prescription oxycodone, come with a high risk of abuse and dependence.
All opioids, including prescription oxycodone, come with a high risk of abuse and dependence.

Treatment to help overcome the symptoms of oxycodone addiction is often key to helping users recover. Such treatment can include administration of certain medications to help with physical withdrawal and/or block the effects of oxycodone. One such drug, called buprenoprhine, mimics some of the effects of opiates on the brain, which can help keep withdrawal symptoms at bay when a person first stops using oxycodone.

Doctors are increasingly reluctant to prescribe oxycodone because of this opioid drug's highly addictive properties.
Doctors are increasingly reluctant to prescribe oxycodone because of this opioid drug's highly addictive properties.

Once a person can overcome these initial physical symptoms, work can usually begin to help treat the mental and behavioral symptoms. Counseling, support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy are often recommended to help users learn how to live their lives without the drug.

Discussion Comments

ddljohn

Opiate addiction is scary and the problem with opiates like oxycodone is that they all eventually lead to addiction. The reason is because the body builds up tolerance to it sooner or later and the dose has to be increased to get the same effects.

SarahGen
@fBoyle-- That's a good question. I'm not a doctor though, so I'm answering this just based on my experience.

I think there is a thin line between dependency and addiction, and there are more severe symptoms with addiction. Addiction is like the advanced stage of dependency.

If someone starts feeling like they need to take this medication to go on with life and if he or she experiences a lot of withdrawal effects from reducing or stopping the dose, that's dependency and addiction. I'm not sure if the dose matters, but higher doses are more risky.

I was not on a very high dose of oxycodone either, but I still became addicted to it. I was moody, angry and tired without it. I also had insomnia and lost my appetite. I had to go for addiction detox at a health center to get over it.

fBoyle

What's the difference between oxycodone dependency and addiction? Are the symptoms different?

Can someone be addicted to oxycodone at a low dose of 5-10mg per day?

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    • Patients can become addicted to pain medicines like Oxycodone after prolonged usage.
      By: Johan Larson
      Patients can become addicted to pain medicines like Oxycodone after prolonged usage.
    • Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller used to dull moderate to severe pain.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Oxycodone is a prescription opioid painkiller used to dull moderate to severe pain.
    • All opioids, including prescription oxycodone, come with a high risk of abuse and dependence.
      By: kmiragaya
      All opioids, including prescription oxycodone, come with a high risk of abuse and dependence.
    • Doctors are increasingly reluctant to prescribe oxycodone because of this opioid drug's highly addictive properties.
      By: JJAVA
      Doctors are increasingly reluctant to prescribe oxycodone because of this opioid drug's highly addictive properties.
    • Like heroin, oxycodone can become extremely addictive.
      By: palangsi
      Like heroin, oxycodone can become extremely addictive.
    • Oxycodone treatment usually requires in-patient detox.
      By: Monkey Business
      Oxycodone treatment usually requires in-patient detox.